I could have fun. I would prove it to them, I wasn't only a 23 year old workaholic who worked at a big law firm in New York City. I knew how to have fun. "Asshole, doesn't know what he's talking about." I muttered under my breath as I splashed some water on my face. I took a deep breath and looked at my face. I was pretty. I had honey brown eyes and nice, long brown hair, of course not many here knew that, I always had my hair tied in a bun. I owned a dozen suits, all in the usual boring colors. Once in a while, I would add a ribbon or a scarf to add a pop of color, but I was always in a suit, except when I was not sleeping.
My phone started buzzing and I looked down at who it was. Jesse. That asshole. "Yes Jesse?" I picked up, annoyed.
"I just wanted to make sure you were coming, unlike last time. Poor Serenity got the chills and bailed on us last Friday night." I could hear the smirk in his voice and I swore that if he were in front of me, I'd smack him.
"I told you what happened last week. I'll meet you and the others at the club in a few. I'm getting ready." I said as I started to apply my makeup.
"Okay, just wanted to make sure, oh and Serenity, try to wear something other than those boring suits you have." Jesse hung up before I could say anything to him. I hated that man. He was always on my ass about everything. What I ate, what I wore, how I worked. I couldn't even say anything to him because he was the head attorney. Damn rich assholes. I made my eyes smoky and put a nice red shade of lipstick on, not a hooker color but definitely something to say it was party night. I stepped out of my bathroom wearing my bra and panty and raided my closet. What to wear? I picked out a short cocktail dress and a pair of black pumps. Perfect. I had the outfit and makeup in place. Nothing was going to stop me from showing those idiots from the office that I could be laid back too and have some fun. I put a blazer over the dress just in case it got cold outside. It was New York, anything could happen.
I grabbed my purse and made sure to lock my apartment. I lived in a nice part of Manhattan. My job as an assistant attorney to a major private law firm ensured me a fat paycheck and with no family, I lived a pricey, nice life. My hard work had paid off, all those sleepless nights studying for exams and all that extra credit work earned me a scholarship to Yale and now I was here. 23 years old and a successful lawyer, what else would a girl want. Except maybe some free time. I hailed a cab down and twenty minutes later, I was downtown, stopping in front of a night club. The place looked packed from the outside and it looked like every young hotshot in town was there for the night.
"Thanks, here." I handed the driver a tip which he graciously accepted and I stepped out into the busy night. The line for the club was long but I knew Jesse already got us VIP access. I told the bouncer Jesse's name and he smiled a toothy smile and let me through. I heard groans and complaints behind me and I smiled to myself and shook my head. Music started flowing into my ears as I descended the steps into the club. Yep, I was right. The place was packed. I knew Jesse would have gotten us a private booth and a hostess came up to me and once I told her Jesse's name, she smiled and told me to follow her. I avoided most of the young drunk people who were already on the dance floor, grinding and doing god knows what.
The flashing lights allowed me to see my other coworkers who were seated at a private booth. Several of them already had drinks. I watched as two of my coworkers took shots and I approached them, smiling.
"You started the party without me?" I said. The crew looked up at me, surprised.
"Wow, I can't believe you made it. Take a seat." Shanaya, an Indian woman roughly my age said. She looked quite hot in a red mini dress with matching heels. She wore bangles in one hand and had a golden nose ring. It made her look authentic.
"Thanks Shanaya, where is Jesse?" I asked as I took my seat. Not that I cared, but I wanted him to see that I was here. I was here and ready to party and prove to them that I was not a bore.
"He went to make a call, he'll be back, want a shot?" I looked at the small shot glass that Shanaya put on the table. I shrugged and picked it up. In one go, I took it. The bitterness of the liquid hit my tongue and burned as it passed through my insides. It was like a wakeup call.
"No stopping, here's another." We continued with another three shots and finally, I started to loosen up. I took my blazer off and placed it to the side.
"You're looking cute, Serenity." One of my coworkers, Ethan, said as he took one of his own.
"Thanks. Say, where's your girlfriend?" Ethan was a one woman kind of guy. He had blue eyes and blonde hair, was fairly tall but very skinny. I had a crush on him when I first started working there but immediately backed off as soon as I found out he was in a long term relationship with his high school sweetheart. The two looked adorable together, there was no hating on Ashley, Ethan's girlfriend. She was just too nice.
"She's at the bar, talking to the bartender. Apparently they are friends from middle school." Ethan kind of slurred his words and I said, "No more for you hon, you're already drunk."
Before he could answer, a hand rested on my shoulder and I looked up to see who it was. "So you actually made it." Jesse said. I looked into his green eyes. He was wearing a suit but his sleeves were rolled up and his dark hair was gelled back. He had a girl with him that I did not recognize. She seemed to cling to him like a leech and I gave her a weird look.
"I've been here for a while now and I'm already partying. Where have you been?" I asked him. He disregarded the girl who stood there awkwardly and took a seat. "I was speaking to a client. Drinks please." Jesse called out to a hostess who was walking by. He placed a quick order and then looked at me. He was head attorney but he wasn't that much older, only about 27, I think. The women in the office claimed they would do anything to sleep with him. I personally didn't get why. He was quite the looker, no denying that with his emerald eyes, fair skin, and dark brown hair, but it was his cocky personality that really ticked me off. He reminded me of someone I knew from my high school back in Domino High.
"So, care to dance?" He asked. I looked at the hand he had outstretched and then back up at him. I wanted to show this guy I could have fun. Why? Because he always teased me. He always said I was too much of a granny to lay back and do something other than work with my life. I worked twice as hard as any of the others to get to where I was today.
"Not now, maybe a little later. Night is still young my friend." I said and picked up another shot that Shanaya was reaching out for. "Sorry, I'll order us another round." I was beginning to get tipsy, a couple more then I would have to stop. I didn't want to overdo things and end up acting like a fool in front of my coworkers. Shanaya was almost half gone.
"I'll dance with you Jesse." Jesse looked at Shanaya and flashed her a smile. He took her hand and the two of them walked away to the dance floor. I looked over at Ethan, who had his head on the table and was lightly snoring. My other two co-workers that had joined the party earlier were still dancing on the dance floor. Jesse's drinks arrived and I snagged one and started sipping on the drink. I was starting to get hungry but everything on the menu somehow did not appeal to me.
After a while, I started to get sleepy. It had been a long day. The office would be closed Saturday and Sunday so there was a lot of paperwork to finish for the weekend and as usual, I stayed late and completed it all as everyone went home to get ready for tonight, which is why I was fashionably late.
Jesse finally appeared, breathing hard from the dancing. He removed his suit jacket and I looked at him with sleepy eyes. "Looks like someone needs a nap." He smirked at me and I frowned.
"Honestly Jesse, can you stop teasing me about everything. I was the one who had to stay behind and do all that paperwork YOU were supposed to do."
"Oh stop complaining, here have a drink." He passed me a shot and together we took it. I knew he was watching me and my nerves were on end. I noticed that he had been watching me a lot lately.
"What?" I said.
"What, what?" He said still smirking at me and giving me that look.
"What do you mean what, what? Why are you looking at me like that?" I said, the world around me was beginning to get really dizzy as the alcohol set into my system.
"I was admiring your red lips. And that dress, it makes you look hot." I snapped out of my dazed state at the compliment. He narrowed his eyes and got up and sat next to me. He put his hand on either side of me and leaned in. He got close enough to kiss and I froze in place. I could smell him. He had a strong cologne on and his breath smelled like alcohol and mint gum. His lips brushed my cheek as he whispered in my ear. "Come and dance." I took a breath as he leaned back and grabbed my hand. I stumbled after him onto the dance floor. He started moving to the music and I looked around confused.
"I can't dance!" I said. Jesse stopped and looked at me. Then he grabbed me by my waist and spun me around. Then he started moving to the beat again, making my hips move with him. The alcohol was putting me more at ease and I started to enjoy myself. A waitress came by with a few drinks and both Jesse and I took another two shots. I was totally drunk now. I was stumbling in my heels and giggling like a little girl. After a while, Jesse's hands started moving up my dress and I thwarted them away. At first I thought it was an accident but he did it again. This time, I pushed him away. I may be drunk but that didn't mean he was about to get some.
"Hey, I need some fresh air." I said and turned around and walked away, leaving Jesse and the others behind. My face was flushed and as soon as the cold air of the alleyway I had walked out into hit me, I felt better. Then suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind. I almost screamed but then he said my name. "Serenity, let's go back to my place." Jesse had me wrapped in his arms from behind. I could feel his hard body pressing up against me. His breath tickled me on my neck and I shivered. Nothing about this situation was good. He was drunk and so was I. He was my coworker and this was wrong.
"Jesse, let go of me." I said, trying to pry his hands from me.
"No, come on Serenity, don't be like that. I know you have the hots for me. You have no idea how long I've wanted you." He kissed my cheek and then started kissing my neck. A sense of dread flooded me and I needed to get away from him.
"Let me go, Jesse, I don't want to do anything with you." I said more firmly. My drunken state made it hard for me to concentrate. Jesse started to grope me. My eyes grew wide as he fondled my breasts and attempted to pull my dress up with his other hand.
"Jesse, NO! Let go of me!" I said. I looked around us frantically to shout out for help. But there was nobody there. He turned me around and then pinned me to the back wall and started kissing me. His mouth tasted like the shots we were taking earlier and he continued to grope me. Tears had started to flow down my cheeks as I tried to push him away. He wasn't listening to me and I couldn't make him move.
"I wanted to do this last week, but you bailed on us. But tonight, I'm making you mine Serenity." He whispered again.
"Jesse, please, for god's sake please stop!" I sobbed out. I closed my eyes as he came in for another kiss. Suddenly, there was a noise behind him and Jesse abruptly let go of my hands that he had pinned to the wall. I tried to see what was happening in the dark alley. I saw a figure punch another figure and then I heard Jesse's voice cry out in pain. My vision was blurry from the tears and I was feeling woozy.
After several more agonizing moments passed by the figure approached me and I was scared it was a mugger or something about to kill me. I raised my hands to protect myself instead a voice called out to me.
"Are you alright?" That voice, I knew that voice! I lowered my hands and looked to see who it was. And just like that, I was looking into the familiar blue eyes of Seto Kaiba.
Author's Note: This story will only continue if my readers write a review. Any kind of feedback is appreciated.